E-News: How Much Do You Know About the Pentagon Budget?

Posted on 01/18/2012 @ 04:22 PM

Tags: Kenya

January 18, 2012

Test Your Knowledge: Where Does the Pentagon Budget Go?
What Our Communities Could Buy Instead of War
Cut the Pentagon's Budget, Make the U.S. Safer
The U.S. and Iran in One Minute
FCNL's Spring Lobby Weekend: Make Your Plans Now!
Welcome Katherine Phillipson to FCNL
Kenya: Sharing Resources for Conflict Prevention
Grassroots Lobbying Tip of the Week: Know Who You're Talking To
War Is Not the Answer Photo of the Week: Minnesota Peace Project

Test Your Knowledge: Where Does the Pentagon Budget Go?

Since 2003, what percentage of U.S. spending on national security has gone to Pentagon contractors such as Lockheed Martin?

a) 30%

b) 40%

c) 50%

d) 60%

Check your answer, and look for a new quiz question in next week's e-newsletter!

What Our Communities Could Buy Instead of War

As the Pentagon and its contractors are demanding more and more of the spending pie, your communities are paying for it. State and local governments face more and more cutbacks and hard choices. Isn't it time to look at what our tax dollars could be funding instead of wars?

For the tax dollars they are spending on the Department of Defense, residents of Greensboro, NC could get 8,065 firefighters, 5,840 elementary school teachers, or provide a year of Head Start to 40,810 children. See what your community could be funding instead of the Pentagon using this calculator from the National Priorities Project, then share the information with your friends.

Cut the Pentagon's Budget, Make the U.S. Safer

"Cutting the Pentagon's budget could be a first step towards preparing the nation for the world in which we already live. Cuts of a trillion or more might begin to force a shift in the U.S. strategy for engaging with the rest of the world," writes FCNL's Jim Cason in a recent op-ed publishes in newspapers across the country, from Holland, MI to Harlingen, TX.

Read more of Jim's perspective on what's at stake in the debate over Pentagon spending cuts.

The U.S. and Iran in One Minute

What's going on between the U.S. and Iran?  FCNL's Middle East lobbyist Kate Gould explains how Congress can increase or decrease the chances of violent conflict between the U.S. and Iran.  Watch the video, then take action by using our postcards to urge your senators to support diplomatic engagement with Iran. We'll send you free postcards to use and to share with others in your meeting, church, or community group.

FCNL's Spring Lobby Weekend: Make Your Plans Now!

Join the movement to end the U.S. war in Afghanistan.  From March 17-20, FCNL's annual Spring Lobby Weekend will bring people from around the country to Washington to learn to lobby and make their voices heard in Congress. Find out more and register today.

Welcome Katherine Phillipson to FCNL

Katherine Phillipson, FCNL's newest staff member, is working with our grassroots network (that's you!) to organize for change.  Katherine comes to FCNL after working with community empowerment organizations in Senegal and organizing the faith community as a Policy Fellow with the Jubilee USA Network.  Find out more about Katherine, and stay tuned for when she might be traveling to your area!

Kenya: Sharing Resources for Conflict Prevention

Last week, FCNL's Cassidy Regan spoke about her month-long trip to Kenya where she met people working to prevent deadly conflict. She shared the podium with officials from the State Department, the Department of Defense, USAID, the Kenyan government and several non-profit organizations in Washington.  Find out more about Cassidy's trip and about how FCNL is working to help prevent violence in Kenya as the presidential elections approach.

Caption: From left to right--Cassidy Regan; fellow panelist Samantha DiFilippo, a Conflict Prevention Officer at the State Department; and attendee Dorina Bekoe, with the Institute for Defense Analyses.

Grassroots Lobbying Tip of the Week: Know Who You're Talking To

Reaching out to your member of Congress isn't just about contacting an individual-it's also about contacting an organization built around them.  Knowing who's who in a congressional office can help your message make a difference.  Your members of Congress will be home during the Presidents' Day recess, February 20-24. Read some of our tips on how to navigate a congressional office, and then set up a meeting with your members' office.

War is Not the Answer Photo of the Week: Minnesota Peace Project

The Minnesota Peace Project delivered 200 of FCNL's "Diplomacy-Not War-with Iran!" postcards on a lobby visit to Senator Amy Klobuchar's office.  One of Minnesota Peace Project's members, Coleen Rowley (left of the sign), is a former FBI agent and whistleblower who was named the TIME's Person of the Year award in 2002, along with two other prominent whistleblowers.

Order your own War Is Not the Answer sign and see where this movement is showing up across the country. Find out how to submit your photo.